Decoupled and coordinated control of refrigeration climate control systems
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorNicholas A. Gregorich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described herein are techniques for coordinated operation of refrigerant climate control systems in an optimized manner. In an example process, climate control information for a plurality of refrigerant climate control systems is maintained. An energy optimization signal is received that describes a characteristic associated with an electrical energy source. A set of control signals is generated for a set of refrigerant climate control systems based on climate control information and the energy optimization information. The set of control signals is then sent to a set of refrigerant climate control systems. Each control signal may be configured to cause a respective refrigerant climate control system to operate using the electricity from the electrical energy source.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method, comprising:
- maintaining climate control information for a plurality of refrigerant climate control systems located at a plurality of different geographic locations within a predefined geographic region, wherein each refrigerant climate control system of the plurality of refrigerant climate control systems comprises a system that utilizes refrigerant to transfer heat from one location to another;
- receiving energy optimization information that describes a characteristic associated with an electrical energy grid comprising a plurality of energy generation sources configured to provide electricity to at least some of the plurality of refrigerant climate control systems located within the predefined geographic region, wherein the characteristic is a present characteristic or a forecasted characteristic;
- and
- generating a set of control signals for a set of refrigerant climate control systems of the plurality of refrigerant climate control systems based at least in part on the climate control information and the energy optimization information;
- and
- sending the set of control signals to the set of refrigerant climate control systems, wherein each control signal is configured to cause the respective refrigerant climate control system to operate using the electricity from the electrical energy source.
A computer system, comprising:
- a memory comprising computer-executable instructions;
- and
- a processor configured to access the memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to at least:
- maintain climate control information for a plurality of refrigerant climate control systems located at a plurality of different geographic locations within a predefined geographic region, wherein each refrigerant climate control system of the plurality of refrigerant climate control systems comprises a system that utilizes refrigerant to transfer heat from one location to another;
- receive energy optimization information that describes a characteristic associated with an electrical energy grid comprising a plurality of energy generation sources configured to provide electricity to at least some of the plurality of refrigerant climate control systems located within the predefined geographic region, wherein the characteristic is a present characteristic or a forecasted characteristic;
- and
- generate a set of control signals for a set of refrigerant climate control systems of the plurality of refrigerant climate control systems based at least in part on the climate control information and the energy optimization information;
- and
- send the set of control signals to the set of refrigerant climate control systems, wherein each control signal of the set of control signals is configured to cause the respective refrigerant climate control system to operate using the electricity from the electrical energy source.
One or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform operations comprising:
- maintaining climate control information for a plurality of different refrigerant climate control systems located at a plurality of different geographic locations within a predefined geographic region, wherein each refrigerant climate control system of the plurality of refrigerant climate control systems comprises a system that utilizes refrigerant to transfer heat from one location to another;
- receiving energy optimization information that describes a characteristic associated with an electrical energy grid comprising a plurality of energy generation sources configured to provide electricity to at least some of the plurality of refrigerant climate control systems located within the predefined geographic region, wherein the characteristic is a present characteristic or a forecasted characteristic;
- and
- generating a set of control signals for a set of refrigerant climate control systems of the plurality of refrigerant climate control systems based at least in part on the climate control information and the energy optimization information;
- and
- sending the set of control signals to the set of refrigerant climate control systems, wherein each control signal is configured to cause the respective refrigerant climate control system to operate using the electricity from the electrical energy source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.